A funeral mass was offered Sept. 10 at St. Ann’s R.C. Church, Hoboken, for Joseph Curcio. He passed away Sept. 7 at Hoboken University Medical Center. Joseph was born and raised in Hoboken; he lived all his life in the same house. Upon his graduation from A.J. Demarest High School in 1950, his classmates called him ‘A Diamond in the Rough’. Joey enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1950 and served approximately three and one half years aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Tarawa CVA40. He made multiple cruise trips to the Mediterranean Sea during the Korean War. He was assigned as a member of the crew on the flight deck of the ship where he serviced and provided fuel to airplanes and jets. He performed his duties with diligence and vigor. He demonstrated this by rescuing pilots and air crewmen from crash landed, endangered and gas burning aircraft. These actions won the notice, praise and respect of Commander Roberts, a mustang officer, who placed Joey in charge of the deck gang because of his dedication and leadership skills, despite Joey’s lack of rank.

After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he was hired by Gene Sparta as a longshoreman on the Hoboken Piers. He worked for over 30 years on the piers in Hoboken, Port Newark and Bayonne. Joey always made an impression on people. Once you met him you never forgot his name and he had a great sense of humor. He loved books and the old time movies on TV. He is survived by his sister, Margaret Curcio Murphy; brother in law, William G. Murphy; niece Diane, Walsh; and nephew, Michael Curcio. He was predeceased by his parents, Louis and Margaret Curcio; brother, Michael Curcio; and his lifelong companion, Elizabeth McCarroll. Services arranged by the Failla Memorial Home, Hoboken.